U.S. patent application number 13/860868 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-17 for deicer zones with shedding-enhanced borders.
This patent application is currently assigned to GOODRICH CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Galdemir Botura, Brian Burkett, Milan Mitrovic. Invention is credited to Galdemir Botura, Brian Burkett, Milan Mitrovic.
Application Number | 20130270253 13/860868 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48139720 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130270253 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Botura; Galdemir ; et
al. |
October 17, 2013 |
DEICER ZONES WITH SHEDDING-ENHANCED BORDERS
Abstract
An ice protection system comprises deicing zones each including
an envelope defining an ice-protection area. Adjacent envelopes
have spanwise edge regions flanking shared interzone borders. The
edge regions are provided with nonlinear contours having features
which project-and-recess in a direction generally parallel to the
airstream direction.
Inventors: |
Botura; Galdemir; (San
Diego, CA) ; Burkett; Brian; (Akron, OH) ;
Mitrovic; Milan; (Del Mar, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Botura; Galdemir
Burkett; Brian
Mitrovic; Milan |
San Diego
Akron
Del Mar |
CA
OH
CA |
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GOODRICH CORPORATION
Charlotte
NC
|
Family ID: |
48139720 |
Appl. No.: |
13/860868 |
Filed: |
April 11, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61623050 |
Apr 11, 2012 |
|
|
|
61623047 |
Apr 11, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/475 ;
219/486 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B64D 15/02 20130101;
H05B 1/0236 20130101; B64D 15/12 20130101; B64D 15/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
219/475 ;
219/486 |
International
Class: |
B64D 15/12 20060101
B64D015/12; H05B 1/02 20060101 H05B001/02 |
Claims
1. An ice protection system comprising a first set of contiguous
deicing zones; wherein: each deicing zone comprises an envelope
defining an ice-protection area; each envelope includes an
electrothermal heater layer which converts electric power to heat
to deice the corresponding ice-protection area; at least two of the
envelopes are adjacent and share a common interzone border; each of
the adjacent envelopes includes an edge region flanking the
interzone border; and the edge regions of the adjacent envelopes
are configured to enhance deicing at the interzone border by having
nonlinear contours with edge features which project-and-recess in a
direction substantially parallel to the airstream direction.
2. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
adjacent envelopes comprise a fore envelope having an edge region
flanking the interzone border, this edge region having nonlinear
contours with edge features which project-and-recess in a direction
substantially parallel to the airstream direction; and/or wherein
the adjacent envelopes comprise an aft envelope having an edge
region flanking the interzone border, this edge region having
nonlinear contours with edge features which project-and-recess in a
direction substantially parallel to the airstream direction; and/or
wherein the adjacent envelopes comprise a mid envelope having a
fore edge region flanking the interzone border, this edge region
having nonlinear contours with edge features which
project-and-recess in a direction substantially parallel to the
airstream direction; and/or wherein the adjacent envelopes comprise
a mid envelope having an aft edge region flanking the interzone
border, this edge region having nonlinear contours with edge
features which project-and-recess in a direction substantially
parallel to the airstream direction.
3. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, comprising an
anti-icing zone positioned fore of the first set of the deicing
zones.
4. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, comprising a
second set of contiguous deicing zones; wherein: each deicing zone
comprises an envelope defining an ice-protection area; each
envelope includes an electrothermal heater layer which converts
electric power to heat to deice the corresponding ice-protection
area; at least two of the envelopes are adjacent and share a common
interzone border; each of the adjacent envelopes includes an edge
region flanking the interzone border; and the edge regions of the
adjacent envelopes are configured to enhance ice deicing at the
interzone border by having nonlinear contours with edge features
which project-and-recess in a direction substantially parallel to
the airstream direction.
5. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the
adjacent envelopes comprise a fore envelope having an edge region
flanking the interzone border, this edge region having nonlinear
contours with edge features which project-and-recess in a direction
substantially parallel to the airstream direction; and/or wherein
the adjacent envelopes comprise an aft envelope having an edge
region flanking the interzone border, this edge region having
nonlinear contours with edge features which project-and-recess in a
direction substantially parallel to the airstream direction; and/or
wherein the adjacent envelopes comprise a mid envelope having a
fore edge region flanking the interzone border, this edge region
having nonlinear contours with edge features which
project-and-recess in a direction substantially parallel to the
airstream direction; and/or wherein the adjacent envelopes comprise
a mid envelope having an aft edge region flanking the interzone
border, this edge region having nonlinear contours with edge
features which project-and-recess in a direction substantially
parallel to the airstream direction.
6. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 4, comprising an
anti-icing zone positioned fore of the second set of the deicing
zones, wherein the anti-icing zone is positioned between the first
set of deicing zones and the second set of deicing zones.
7. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge regions of the adjacent envelopes have complimentary edge
features.
8. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the
edge regions of the adjacent envelopes have undulating edge
features.
9. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 8, wherein the
edge features puzzle-piece together to form a continuous interzone
border.
10. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge features have rounded shapes.
11. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge features are aligned.
12. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge features are offset.
13. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge features vary in frequency along the interzone border.
14. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge features vary in amplitude along the interzone border.
15. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the
edge features of different interzone borders vary in frequency
and/or vary in amplitude.
16. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, further
comprising a controller which supplies electrical power
episodically to each of the deicing zones, wherein the episode
extent is less than twenty seconds and wherein the
episode-to-episode interlude is greater than ten seconds.
17. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 16, wherein the
power-supply episodes are executed in a staggering schedule.
18. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 16, wherein
power is supplied sequentially to deicing zones in the first
set.
19. An ice protection system as set forth in claim 1, installed on
an ice-susceptible surface, wherein the surface has a leading edge
which an airstream first encounters and then travels in fore-aft
direction therefrom, and wherein the deicing zones protect surface
regions fore and aft of the leading edge.
20. An aircraft comprising an ice-susceptible surface and an ice
protection system as set forth in claim 1 installed on the
ice-susceptible surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) to
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/623,050, filed Apr. 11,
2012, entitled "DEICER ZONES WITH SHEDDING-ENHANCED BORDERS", and
to Application No. 61/623,047, filed Apr. 11, 2012, entitled
"DEICER ZONES WITH HEATING-ENHANCED BORDERS", both of which are
incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] An aircraft will typically include an ice protection system
to prevent excessive ice accumulation on its wings, stabilizers,
engine inlet lips, and/or pylons. The ice protection system can
incorporate an array of contiguous deicing zones associated with
areas fore and/or aft of the leading edge. Each deicing zone can
comprise an envelope corresponding to an ice-protection area on the
aircraft.
SUMMARY
[0003] An ice protection system is provided wherein edge regions of
adjacent deicing envelopes are configured to allow the ensuing
airstream to enhance ice removal along spanwise interzone borders.
Specifically, the relevant edge regions are provided with features
which project and recess in a direction substantially parallel to
the airstream direction. In this manner, ice accumulating along an
interzone border is presented in vacillating pockets which can be
easily broken by the airstream and swept away.
DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 shows an aircraft having several surfaces protectable
by the ice protection system.
[0005] FIGS. 2-3 shows flattened views of the ice protection
system
[0006] FIGS. 4-6 show standard power-supply procedures for the
deicing zones of the ice protection system.
[0007] FIGS. 7A-7F, 8A-8F, 9A-9F, and 10A-10F show some possible
nonlinear profiles for edge regions of deicing envelopes.
DESCRIPTION
[0008] Referring to FIG. 1, an aircraft 10 can comprise fuselage
11, wings 12, horizontal stabilizers 13, a vertical stabilizer 14,
engines 15, and pylons 16. The wings 12 are the aircraft's primary
lift providers. The horizontal stabilizers 13 prevent up-down
motion of the aircraft nose, and the vertical stabilizer 14
discourages side to side swinging. The engines 15 are the
aircraft's thrust-providing means and the pylons 16 serve as
underwing mounting means for the engines.
[0009] Referring to FIGS. 2-3, each wing 12, stabilizer 13-14,
engine 15, and/or pylon 16 can be viewed as having an
ice-susceptible surface 20 with a leading edge 30. The airstream A
first encounters the leading edge 30 and then travels in a fore-aft
direction therefrom.
[0010] The surface 20 is provided with an ice protection system 40
comprising an ice protection array 50 and a controller 60 operably
connected to the array 50. The illustrated ice protection array 50
comprises a first set 100 of contiguous deicing zones 101-103, a
second set 200 of contiguous deicing zones 201-203, and an
anti-icing zone 310. The anti-icing zone 310 will usually coincide
with the leading edge 30 and can be positioned between the fore
zone 101 of the first deicer set 100 and the fore zone 201 of the
second deicer set 200.
[0011] While the surface 20 appears flat in the drawing, this is
simply for ease in illustration and explanation. In most instances,
the surface 20 will have a curved profile wrapping around the
leading edge 30 of the associated aircraft structure. If, for
example, the ice-susceptible surface 20 is on a wing 12 or a
horizontal stabilizer 13, the deicing zones 101-103 could be
located on upper portion of the wing/stabilizer and the deicing
zones 201-203 could be located on its lower portion. If the surface
20 resides on the vertical stabilizer 14 or one of the pylons 16,
the deicing zones 101-103 could occupy its rightside portions and
the deicing zones 201-203 could occupy its leftside portions. If
the surface area 20 is on one of the engines 15, the deicing zones
101-103 could be situated on inner lip portions and the deicing
zones 201-203 could be situated on outer lip portions.
[0012] The deicing zones 101-103 in the first deicer set 100 each
comprise an envelope 111-113 defining an ice protection area
121-123. Each envelope 111-113 includes an electrothermal heater
layer 131-133 which converts electric power to heat to deice the
corresponding ice-protection area 121-123. The envelopes 111-113
can comprise further layers (e.g., layers 141-143, layers 151-153,
etc.) surrounding the heater layers 131-133 for thermal transfer,
electrical insulation, and/or protection purposes.
[0013] The deicing zones 101-103 in the first deicer set 100 each
comprise an envelope 111-113 defining an ice protection area
121-123. Each envelope 111-113 includes an electrothermal heater
layer 131-133 which converts electric power to heat to deice the
corresponding ice-protection area 121-123. The envelopes 111-113
can comprise further layers (e.g., layers 141-143, layers 151-153,
etc.) surrounding the heater layers 131-133 for thermal transfer,
electrical insulation, and/or protection purposes.
[0014] The envelopes 111-112 share a common interzone border 160
and the envelopes 112-113 share a common interzone border 170,
which both extend generally in a direction perpendicular to the
airstream direction A. The interzone border 160 is flanked by an
end region 161 of the envelope 111 and an end region 162 of the
envelope 112. The interzone border 170 is flanked by an end region
172 of the envelope 112 and an end region 173 of the envelope
113.
[0015] The envelope 111 has a non-common (e.g., fore) border 180
adjacent its edge region 181 and the envelope 113 has a non-common
(e.g., aft) border 190 adjacent its edge region 193. The border 180
and the border 190 also extend generally in a direction
perpendicular to the airstream direction A.
[0016] The deicing zones 201-203 in the second deicer set 200
include similar envelopes 211-213 defining ice protection areas
221-223 and including envelope layers (e.g., layers 231-233, layers
241-243, layers 251-253, etc.). They also include an interzone
border 260 (flanked by envelope edge regions 261 and 262), an
interzone border 270 (flanked by envelope edge regions 272 and
273), a fore border 280 (adjacent envelope edge region 281), and an
aft border 290 (adjacent envelope edge region 293). The interzone
border 260, the interzone border 270, the fore border 280, and the
aft border 290 extend generally in a direction perpendicular to the
airstream direction A.
[0017] The anti-icing zone 301 can include an envelope 311 defining
an ice protection area 321, housing an electrothermal heater layer
331, and including additional envelope layers 341 and 351. The
anti-icing zone 310 can be bounded by borders 160 and 260 and
flanked by envelope edge regions 161 and 261.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 4-6, some possible power-supply
procedures for the ice protection system 40 are shown. In each of
these procedures, electrical power is episodically (not constantly)
supplied to a heater for short time periods. The episode extent is
selected so that enough heat is provided to loosen accumulated ice
for sweeping away by the ensuing airstream. The episode-to-episode
interlude is chosen so that an appropriate amount of ice
accumulates therebetween. Although these time durations will vary
depending upon several factors, an episode will ordinarily last
about five to ten seconds and will usually be less than twenty
seconds. And the interlude between episodes is generally greater
than ten seconds.
[0019] In a zoned electrothermal deicing procedure, the
power-supply episodes are executed in a staggering schedule so as
to minimize power-draw spikes. The heaters' episodes are
collectively viewed in terms of time intervals t1-tn, with
different heaters being supplied power during different intervals.
A cycle is completed when a power-supply episode has occurred for
each deicing zone.
[0020] In FIG. 4, each cycle includes six intervals t1-t6, with
power being supplied to sequentially to zones 101-103 and then
sequentially to zones 201-203. In FIG. 5, each cycle includes three
intervals t1-t3, with power being supplied sequentially to zones
101-103 and sequentially to zones 201-203 at the same time. In FIG.
6, each cycle includes eight intervals t1-t8, with only one deicing
zone being supplied power during some of the intervals (e.g.,
intervals t1, t4, t5, t8) and two deicing zones being supplied with
power during other intervals (e.g., intervals t2, t3, t6, t7).
[0021] The anti-icing zone 301 is continuously supplied with power
in all of the illustrated power-supply procedures. This continuous
supply of electrical power is intended to persistently heat the
corresponding ice protection area 311 so that ice never even forms
thereon. The use of such an anti-icing approach along a leading
edge is considered customary in airfoil ice protection.
[0022] As was indicated above, the envelope structures commonly
include further layers (e.g., layers 141-143, layers 151-153, etc.)
surrounding the heater layers 131-133, at least some of which are
for electrical insulation and/or protection purposes. As such,
envelope constructions can often hinder the transfer of ice-melting
heat to edge regions of the deicing zones. This hindering is
especially apparent when two adjacent deicer envelopes share a
spanwise interzone border (e.g., envelopes 111-112 sharing border
160, adjacent envelopes 112-113 sharing border 170, adjacent
envelopes 211-212 sharing border 260, and adjacent envelopes
212-213 sharing border 270).
[0023] When designing a deicer envelope, the non-heating layers are
generally optimized to provide adequate electrical insulation,
sufficient environmental protection, maximum heat transfer, lighter
weights, lower power draws, and longer lives. As such, trimming
thicknesses along edge regions could compromise electrical
insulation and environmental protection. Likewise, padding
thicknesses along non-edge regions to equalize heat transfer
parameters could cause weight and power-draw concessions.
[0024] The ice protection system 40 addresses border-heat-hindrance
issues by configuring envelope edge regions to enhance deicing in
these interzone vicinities.
[0025] As shown in the 7th through 10th series of drawings, the
interzone edge regions (i.e., edge regions 161-162, edge regions
171-172, edge regions 261-262) have non-linear contours. More
specifically, the contour of interzone edge regions are provided
with complementary and/or undulating edge features (i.e., features
166-167, features 176-177, features 266-267, features 276-277)
which puzzle-piece together to form a continuous interzone
border.
[0026] This type of perimeter profile facilitates ice removal
because the edge features project-and-recess in a direction
substantially parallel to the airstream direction A. With
traditional deicers, ice accumulating along spanwise interzone
borders follows the linear path of the envelope regions and often
forms a blunt unbroken ice cordon. With the ice protection system
40, any ice accumulating along an interzone border will follow the
nonlinear perimeter of the too-cold edge region. Instead of a solid
cordon, the ice will be presented in pockets vacillating across the
aircraft surface. To the extent that there is bonding among the ice
pockets, it can be easily broken by the airstream A and swept
away.
[0027] As is shown in the 7th through 10th series of drawings, the
edge features 166-167, the edge features 176-177, the edge features
266-267, and/or the edge features 276-277 can have round,
triangular, rectangular, polygonal, or any other suitable shape.
The edge features of each interzone border within a set can be
aligned with or they can be offset from one another (see and
compare, e.g., the A figures and the B figures in the each drawing
series). The features can vary in frequency or amplitude along each
interzone border (see, e.g., the C-D figures each drawing series).
Or they can vary in frequency or amplitude from one interzone
border to another (see, e.g., E-F figures each drawing series).
[0028] Although the aircraft 10, the surface 20, the system 40, the
array 50, the controller 60, the deicer set 100, the deicing zones
101-103 (and their layers, edge regions, and interzone borders),
the deicer set 200, the deicing zone 201-203 (and their layers,
edge regions, and interzone borders) and/or the anti-icing zone 301
have been shown and described with respect to a certain
embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and
modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the
reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed
drawings. Specifically, for example, ice protection systems with
more or less deicing and/or anti-icing zones are feasible and
foreseeable. And while a particular feature of the aircraft 10 or
the ice protection system 40 may have been described above with
respect to some of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be
combined with one or more other features of the other embodiments,
as may be desired and advantageous.
TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE NUMBERS 10 aircraft 11 fuselage 20 ice
susceptible surface 12 wings 30 leading edge 13 horizontal
stabilizers 40 ice protection system 14 vertical stabilizer 50 ice
protection array 15 engines 60 controller 16 pylons 100 first set
of deicing zones 200 second set of deicing zones 101 fore deicing
zone 201 fore deicing zone 102 mid deicing zone 202 mid deicing
zone 103 aft deicing zone 203 aft deicing zone 111 fore deicer
envelope 211 fore deicer envelope 112 mid deicer envelope 212 mid
deicer envelope 113 aft deicer envelope 213 aft deicer envelope 121
fore ice protection area 221 fore ice protection area 122 mid ice
protection area 222 mid ice protection area 123 aft ice protection
area 223 aft ice protection area 131 fore heating layer 231 fore
heating layer 132 mid heating layer 232 mid heating layer 133 aft
heating layer 233 aft heating layer 141 fore envelope layer 241
fore envelope layer 142 mid envelope layer 242 mid envelope layer
143 aft envelope layer 243 aft envelope layer 151 fore envelope
layer 251 fore envelope layer 152 mid envelope layer 252 mid
envelope layer 153 aft envelope layer 253 aft envelope layer 160
fore-mid border 260 fore-mid border 161 aft edge region of fore
zone 261 aft edge region of fore zone 162 fore edge region of mid
zone 262 fore edge region of mid zone 166 edge features 266 edge
features 167 edge features 267 edge features 170 mid-aft border 270
mid-aft border 172 aft edge region of mid zone 272 aft edge region
of mid zone 173 fore edge region of aft zone 273 fire edge region
of aft zone 176 edge features 276 edge features 177 edge features
277 edge features 180 fore border 280 fore border 181 fore edge
region of fore zone 281 fore edge region of fore zone 190 aft
border 290 aft border 193 aft edge region of aft zone 291 aft edge
region of aft zone 301 anti-icing zone 331 heating layer 311
envelope 341 envelope layer 321 ice protection area 351 envelope
layer
* * * * *